Bo & Luke: Amburana
Against The Grain Brewery

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From:
Against The Grain Brewery
 
Kentucky, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
13%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.3 | pDev: 3.26%
Ratings:
14 | reviews: 3
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 21, 2020
Added:
Nov 02, 2017
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  7
Bo & Luke is one of Against the Grain’s most sought after beers. We took the ingredients in bourbon whiskey (Barley, Rye, Corn) and then smoked them with cherry wood and brewed a huge imperial stout with them. This special 5-year anniversary variant was then aged in Amburana wood.
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Rated: 4.66 by DvdP from Netherlands

Sep 21, 2020
Photo of kitch
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
A white waxed 750ml bottle with no clear bottled on or best before date, but should be 2017 vintage. Poured into a snifter glass.

Appearance: Dark dark brown to black in colour with an one finger tanned head that had decent retention and left nice spotty lacing.

Aroma: Light roast, chocolate, cocoa, oak, sweet, vanilla, cinnamon, and light smoke.

Taste: Sweet, vanilla, cinnamon, oak, bourbon, chocolate, cocoa, chocolate cake, caramel, and light smoke.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.

Overall: Nice aroma and flavours with a nice mix of especially vanilla and cinnamon. Smoke was there but a little light compared to the base, while mouthfeel was lighter than expected.
Apr 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.34 by Griffith from Connecticut

Mar 22, 2019
 
Rated: 4.11 by nickfl from Florida

Nov 23, 2018
 
Rated: 4.09 by khargro2 from Tennessee

Oct 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by LouisvilleMike from Kentucky

Aug 13, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by Jamison85 from Indiana

Jul 24, 2018
 
Rated: 4.4 by Dactrius from Caribbean Netherlands

May 05, 2018
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Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
On tap at EBF in Boston, MA.

This one pours a very dark black, with no head or lacing.

This smells like strong but fruity smoke, with chocolate, charred smoky oak, and bourbon.

The amburana is a cool touch here, as it goes off a neat earthy, fruity, and oaky vibe- it feels tropical in a down to earth way. There's lots of barrel, with charred oak and leathery bourbon. This is nice.

This is medium bodied, chewy, and fairly thick, with a good level of carbonation.

Most of the Bo and Luke variants sound straight up horrific. This one was nice.
Feb 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Feb 03, 2018
 
Rated: 4.19 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Jan 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.33 by axf4129 from Indiana

Jan 21, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

Nov 11, 2017
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Reviewed by Fordcoyote15 from Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Somewhat concerned. I cut 3/4 of the wax loose and saw wetness underneath. As soon as I freed the cap from the rest a carbonated hiss let out. The wax literally was sealing this beer... it still hissed again when I cracked the cap but I'm not sure about this...

L - watery dark cola brown with HUGE foamy 4 finger head...

S - like I recall standard b&l to smell. Roasty, smokey and bitter chocaltely. This beer has a huge metallic smell though. Like copper pennies wafting into your nose...

T - Good God. What is amburana and how do I invest in it? It's like it's base with a semi sweet vanilla, caramel and coconut woodiness. Coconut is more predominant than anything, base and all. There's char, tobacco, cream, but this unique predominant flavor alongside everything. I assume it has to be the specific wood? I love this.

F - it's mostly dry, and stupid rich. It's thick, and filling, and a smokey, malty meal of a sipper.

Overall - I got 2 of these through pretty easy trades... so maybe I shouldn't praise it in this review because I actually want more. In retrospect, this sucks. Trade it away if you have it.
Nov 02, 2017